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Integrating Omic Technologies into Aquatic Ecological Risk Assessment and Environmental Monitoring: Hurdles, Achievements and Future Outlook
Citation:
Van Aggelen, G., G. T. ANKLEY, W. S. Baldwin, D. W. Bearden, W. H. BENSON, J. K. Chipman, T. W. COLLETTE, AND et al. Integrating Omic Technologies into Aquatic Ecological Risk Assessment and Environmental Monitoring: Hurdles, Achievements and Future Outlook . ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Research Triangle Park, NC, 118(1):1-5, (2010).
Impact/Purpose:
see description
Description:
In this commentary we present the findings from an international consortium on fish toxicogenomics sponsored by the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) with an objective of moving omic technologies into chemical risk assessment and environmental monitoring. Objectives: The consortium from government agencies, academia and industry addressed three topics; progress in ecotoxicogenomics; regulatory perspectives on ‘roadblocks’ for practical implementation of toxicogenomics into risk assessment; and dealing with variability in datasets. Discussion: Key points were: Examples of successful application of omic technologies have been identified. There remain critical studies to relate molecular changes to ecological adverse outcome. Recommendations were made for the management of technical and biological variation. The need for enhanced interdisciplinary training and communication. The need for considerable investment into the generation and curation of appropriate reference omic data. Conclusions: The participants concluded that, while there are ‘hurdles’ to pass on the road to regulatory acceptance, omics technologies are already useful for elucidating modes of action of toxicants and can contribute to the risk assessment process as part of a ‘weight of evidence’ approach.
